The gâteau nantais is a specialty of Nantes, a port city in France that, in the 18th and 19th centuries, was one of France’s main points of entry for sugar and rum from the West Indies. According to tradition, this trading history explains the recipe: a cake made with sugar, eggs, almond flour, and butter, flavored with rum. What makes it special is the absence of baking powder. The almond flour and butter give it its dense, tender texture, while well-sifted flour keeps it light.

Once baked, it is soaked in rum (or orange blossom water) to keep it moist, then dusted with powdered sugar and decorated with slivered almonds. It keeps well and even gains flavor after resting in the fridge for a while.

Ingredients

Recipe for 8 to 10 people

• 120 g sugar
• 120 g softened butter (very soft)
• 110 g almond flour
• 40 g T45 or T65 flour
• 150 g eggs (about 3 eggs)
• 25 g rum or orange blossom water
• 3 to 4 drops pure almond extract (optional)
• Melted butter for the pan
• A little rum or orange blossom water to soak the cake
• A few toasted slivered almonds and powdered sugar for finishing

Instructions

In a bowl, cream the softened butter with the sugar until smooth, then stir in the almond flour. Add the eggs and whisk until smooth.
Add the rum (or orange blossom water) and the almond extract if using, and mix.
Finally, fold in the sifted flour.

Refrigerate the batter for 1 hour.

About 15 minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

Brush a loaf pan or an 8-inch (20 cm) round cake pan with melted butter.
Pour in the batter, filling the pan about two-thirds full.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, depending on your oven, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a serving plate.

Brush the cake with rum or orange blossom water and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes.

Dust with powdered sugar and sprinkle with toasted slivered almonds.

^{(Photo credit: Laurence Rousselot – Mots en tête, Léa Grandvalet – Image Me Photography)}